I asked Melissa to write a post about the Reformation. Many churches in Croatia can trace their roots back to the Reformation - my church is one of them. We actually have a name for these churches, "Church of the Reformation Heritage".

Martin Luther was the manthat started the entire reformation by nailing his 95 Theses to the door of theCastle Church in Worms Germany. This document listed 95 errors that hediscovered were being taught and confessed in the Roman Catholic Church.Here are the 5 Solas that came about due tothe reformation.

Sola Scriptura!

By Scripture Alone

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable forteaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,thatthe man of Godmay be complete,equippedfor every good work. 2Timothy 3:16

The Bible is the inherent, inspired word of God. Fromwhich we are to learn all that God desires for us to know. From this word welearn of our sin and the need for salvation. We discover how faithful God is aswe study the Old Testament and we discover his mercy as he sends his Son tofulfill the promise of a savior in the New Testament.

Sola Fide!

By Faith Alone

For by grace you have been saved through faith andthat not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone shouldboast. Ephesians 2:8-9

It is not a decision forChrist but God sending the Holy Spirit to work faith in our hearts as we hearthe gospel that leads us to believe in Christ. It is hard for us in our sinful nature to realize that there is nothingwe can do in and of ourselves to gain forgiveness and eternal life in heaven.It is only through what Christ has done for us that we have the hope that iswithin us of eternity in heaven.

Sola Gratia!

By Grace Alone

But whenthe goodness and lovingkindness of God our Savior appeared,5 he saved us,not because of worksdone by us in righteousness, butaccording to his ownmercy, bythe washing of regeneration andrenewal of the HolySpirit,6 whom hepoured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,7 so thatbeing justified by his grace we might becomeheirsaccording to the hopeof eternal life. Titus 3:4-7

Once again it is by the Graceof God that we have been saved. We cannot do enough good deeds to earn our wayinto heaven. In fact no good is foundin me apart from Christ Jesus.

Sola Christos

Christ Alone

6 Jesus said to him,“I amthe way, and the truth, andthe life. No one comes to the Father exceptthrough me. John 14:6

Itis only because Jesus came to this earth and lived a perfect life in our place.Suffered and died on the cross at Calvary and rose again on the third day thatwe are able to be forgiven and the gates of heaven have been thrown open!

Sola Deo Gloria

To God alone be the Glory

36 Forfrom him and through him and to him are allthings.To him be glory forever. Amen.Romans 11:36

Paul wrote these words and they are the epitomeof what the 5 Solas point to. Everything we see is from God alone. And Heshould be given credit for all that he made. He alone provided a way out fromour sin. We did not come up with it on our own.

These 5 Solas are confessed by many Christianbodies today. The Lord prepared Martin Luther to hold stead fast to the truthsthat was revealed to him through the Holy Scriptures. In fact when he was aboutto be excommunicated and was asked to recant his theses he responded in thisway”

“My conscience is captive to the Word of God. Icannot recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me Amen!”